Spring is finally reaching the city of Chicago, and the warm weather has got Chicago’s population buzzing with excitement for the season of baseball. The Chicago White Sox did not have the kind of season they were hoping to have last year, but there has been a few things between last season and the off season that have increased the morale of White Sox fans across the state of Illinois.

The White Sox have signed some big names over the offseason. One of those names was Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who was better known for his outstanding fifteen year career with the Philidalpheia Phillies.

Rollins will be thirty seven years old by the end of the season, and after signing one year for approximately two million dollars. However, Rollins could potentially be an important role player this season.  Rollins is expected to start in the minor league system for the White Sox, however it is likely that he will be moved up if he can maintain the playing ability he had with the Dodgers last year.

White Sox fans may be most excited for the arrival of third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Alex Avila. Both players are similar in the sense where they are past their prime but they can still produce. Frazier batted with a .255 average and a .309 on base percentage in 157 games with a 2015 Cincinatti Reds team that underperformed for the talent they had. He currently sits on top of the third baseman slot on the White Sox depth chart. The program and fans hope he can carry the momentum he had in 2015 into this next season. The same can be said for newly acquired catcher Alex Avila. While he has lost some hitting power, he did walk forty times in 219 plate appearances, keeping his on base percentage to a .339 despite having a batting average below .200. But the exciting part of Avila’s game is how talented he is defensively at playing catcher. As a twenty nine year old catcher Avila’s veteran skill helps him make quick decisions moving the ball. He is less prone to throwing errors, and better equipped to pick off runners compared to Tyler Flowers from last year. If Avila continues to play defense well and get on base he can be a key piece of the White Sox 2016 season.

The White Sox starting rotation is most likely going to be similar to last year’s featuring Chris Sale at the first spot and Jose Quintana at the second spot. It starts to get tricky at the third spot of the rotation. At the third spot you could have Carlos Rodon or new signing Mat Latos.

Rodon is currently the favorite for the third spot with the better ERA of last year with a 3.75 ERA and nine wins in fifteen games. Latos struggled to stay on a team last season with a 4-10 record between three teams. His 4.95 ERA was not as impressive as some of his previous career numbers, but the twenty eight year old pitcher could find a better fit in Chicago now that he is getting a better chance to settle in over the spring. Finishing off the rotation will likely be John Danks and twenty six year old Erik Johnson. Danks has been battling injuries and Johnson has shown some potential with his three and one record in 2015, and both pitchers can expect to play more games this season if they can continue the same play as last season and stay healthy.

Being a realistic White Sox fan who is trying to take a positive outlook on the season, I am confident that this season will be better for the White Sox. Their previous record of 76 wins and 86 losses was clearly not the result the team was hoping for last season. They currently carry a six and three record in the spring season, which doesn’t say much other than that the newer players are fitting in well learning the new system. It is certainly helping fans get a more positive outlook on the upcoming season seeing their team with a winning record. This season it is unlikely that they will appear in the playoffs, but they have the potential to be a team with a record closer to five hundred towards the end of the season. The White Sox having anywhere from 80-84 wins this season would not be a bad prediction. That is not the most lucrative record a baseball team could have, but it would be a step in the right direction, and ultimately, a winning season.

In 2015, the Chicago Cubs went from a homely fan favorite team with the second oldest stadium currently active in the MLB to a championship contender with one some of the most prolific offensive talent in the league. Not only do the Cubs return with most of their stars from last year, but they also picked up some very intriguing and hopeful, new players that look to give the Cubbies the playoff push they need in 2016.

 Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta received a 1-year, $10.7 million extension, and will most likely  be given a huge extension in 2017. Outfielder Dexter Fowler was also resigned to a 1-year, $8 million contract with a $5 million buyout available in 2017. Jason Heyward and John Lackey were free agent pick ups from the St. Louis Cardinals, highlighting the news regarding the Cubs offseason.

Returning for the Cubs includes a cast lead by starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, reigning Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant, and last year’s playoff hero Kyle Schwarber. Arrieta dazzled the professional scene with 22 wins and a fantastic 1.77 ERA, on his course to winning the National League Cy Young award. Kris Bryant earned his Rookie of the Year after pounding 26 homeruns and 99 runs batted in.

In one of the Cubs best seasons in recent history, Chicago’s north side team shot out to a MLB 3rd best record at 97-65. But in the NL Central, the toughest division in baseball, the Cubs were only third and had to play a wildcard game to gain entrance to the NL Divisional Series to face the St. Louis Cardinals. In this single game playoff, Jake Arrieta pitched a shutout to aid a 4-0 effort. Chicago then defeated St. Louis 3-1 in the Divisional Series, and eventually were sent home after being swept by the New York Mets in the NL Conference Series.

Amidst the chaos of the playoffs, a new hero emerged among the Cub’s already young and talented roster. Kyle Schwarber, a rookie left-fielder who had played less than half as season with the Cubs, hit 5 homeruns in the 2015 playoffs powering Chicago’s offense, and setting a franchise record for most postseason home runs in one postseason. The most notable of the five being a 449 foot moon shot in game 4 against St. Louis. This homerun landed on the Wrigley Field scoreboard and was covered in glass casing until February 2016.

The 2016 Major League Baseball season is the most anticipated season in recent years for the Chicago Cubs, as hopes now evolve into expectations, and fans are craving a championship more than ever.

And general manager Theo Epstein only wants his team to fulfill those expectations. The tenacious Cubs look to deliver a championship in 2016, an achievement that has eluded the North Side for more than a century.